FAQS

FAQs

You may recertify by retaking the ServSafe Certification Exam prior to the expiration of the five-year certificate eligibility.

Recommended study materials:

The ServSafe Essentials book is accepted in preparing for recertification in the majority of jurisdictions, or if acceptable in your area, use the ServSafe Manager Certification Training CD-ROM. Check our web site to find state/local health department regulatory requirements for certification renewal.

Retaking the certification exam for recertification:

You must purchase an exam answer sheet for use when taking the certification exam. Search our online database to locate exam administration sites.

If you wish to take your exam online, log in to purchase seat registration numbers, product code SSONLINEX. "Seat Registration Numbers" allows examinees to access and take online exams.

Learn more about the online exam process.

WARNING: YOU MUST HAVE A PROCTOR when taking the online exam and Seat Registration Numbers are not refundable. Before purchasing, check with your state association or local health department or colleges to learn if proctored online exams are available in your area.

Questions:

If you have questions about your state's requirements and/or cannot find classes or exam administration locations listed on the web site, please contact your state restaurant association and state/local health department for more information.

An examinee may take the examination twice within a thirty day period, if necessary. If a third attempt is required, the examinee must wait at least sixty days from their last attempt.

There is only one legitimate reason for an examinee to re-test:

The examinee did not pass the examination.
To re-take the certification exam, contact the individual or group that facilitated your initial certification exam and tell them that you want to re-take the exam.

ServSafe certification is valid for five years. However, this requirement may vary depending on the local requirements in your area, and possibly your own employer's standards. You should follow the most stringent guidelines.

The registration process is entirely online and can be done in five easy steps. Please note: Even if you are currently a ServSafe Manager Instructor and/or Proctor you still need to register as a NRA Culinary Instructor. There is no Proctor status requirement for this program.
• Go to www.servsafe.com/culinary
• Select “Become an Instructor”
• Log in or create a new profile
• Select “Next”, enter your reference information and select “Next” again.
• Agree to the National Restaurant Association’s Performance Standards including the Exam Administration Handbook policies.
• You will receive notice of your status within 3-5 business days of completing your application.

You will receive a renewal notice at 45 and 10 days before your Instructor status expires.
• Go to www.servsafe.com/culinary
• Select “Become/Renew as an Instructor”
• Log in or create a new profile
• Select “Next”, enter your reference information and select “Next” again.
• Agree to the National Restaurant Association’s Performance Standards including the Exam Administration Handbook policies.
• You will receive notice of your status within 3-5 business days of completing your application

• A Registered NRA Culinary Instructor would be allowed to read or interpret (provided they’re fluent in the language) aloud the exam, once an Accommodation has been approved. An Accommodation may also be submitted requesting the use of a professional interpreter in the event a Registered NRA Culinary Instructor is not available.
1) Download, print out, and complete the Examination Accommodation Request Form.
2) Fax your completed form with documentation to the Service Center at (866) 665-9570 (866) 665-9570 .
3) Immediately after faxing, phone (800) 765-2122 (800) 765-2122 , ext. 6703 to verify that we have received your fax.
Click here to download the Examination Accommodation Request Form.
Or you may mail your completed form to the:
National Restaurant Association Solutions
175 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-2814
Attn: Service Center
If you are unable to download the PDF and would like one sent to you, phone (800) 765-2122 (800) 765-2122 , ext. 6703. In Chicagoland (312) 715-1010

• Once you’re registered as an Instructor, select "Schedule and Manage Exam Sessions" under the Instructor section of www.servsafe.com/culinary.
• Enter your ServSafe User ID and Password and select "Schedule Exam" next to the appropriate course name and select either the “Online” or “Print” format.
• Complete the required information the Request Form, which are highlighted by asterisks. Please note, if this is the first time you’re creating a class you may need to search for an Organization. You can do this by clicking on the hyperlink "Organization". If you’re still unable to find your Company, please contact our Service Center at 800-765-2122 ext. 6703 for further assistance. Once you’ve entered the required information, select "Save".
• If you scheduled a Print-based exam, you’ll be taken to another screen where you can print a copy of your Exam Information Form as well as the NRA Culinary Exam you selected.
• If you scheduled an Online exam, you’ll receive your Proctor Access Code, which will be needed to start the exam.

After the results are available you can find the results by logging on to www.servsafe.com/culinary. Select "View Scores" in the "Instructor" section. Select the appropriate company from the drop down menu. Then search by the desired method.

• Certificates are available online and can be accessed by logging on to www.servsafe.com/culinary.
• Select "View Scores" in the "Instructor" section. Select the appropriate company from the drop down menu. Then search by the desired method. You’ll then be able to view scores and print your student’s certificates.
• Please note, certificates for this program are only available online.

Submit an Answer Sheet Review Form to the Service Center. The Service Center will investigate your request and typically respond within five to seven business days of receiving the form. Please note, Answer Sheet Review Forms must be submitted by the Instructor.

• If you took an Online Exam, your results will be available immediately after passing your exam. You can print your certificate by selecting the "Download My Certificate" option under the Student section of www.servsafe.com/culinary.
• If you took an Instructor led class and provided a valid email address on your answer sheet, you’ll receive an email notice when your results are available. Click the link in the email to view your results, complete the required information to create a ServSafe.com User ID and you can view your results. You can print your certificate by selecting the "Download My Certificate" option under the Student section of www.servsafe.com/culinary.
• Please note, NRA Culinary certificates are only available online. Should you not have the ability to print your certificate, please contact your Instructor.

If the exam is not available in your native language, you can utilize a native language to English dictionary during the exam. You can also inform your Instructor of the issue before attending the class and request that they submit an Examination Accommodation Request Form (to potentially have the exam read aloud).

The exams are updated once a year, but we strongly recommend printing off new exams before each exam session. There can be times throughout the year where an update may be needed and this will ensure you are administering the most recent version of the exam.